The 11th Annual Disney Nerds Podcast Scavenger Hunt at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Every year, the Disney Nerds Podcast meet-ups bring together Disney enthusiasts for an unforgettable weekend of fun, friendship, and a little friendly competition. Our annual scavenger hunt has become a signature event of our meet-ups, and this year, for our 11th edition, we took the challenge to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As always, the scavenger hunt was a highlight of the weekend, blending the magic of Disney with a healthy dose of problem-solving, team-building, and, of course, fun!
Our Teams Working on Strategy
What Makes the Scavenger Hunt Special?
The scavenger hunt has always been about more than just finding hidden items or racing to the finish line. It’s about teamwork, creativity, and discovery. Each year, the hunt is designed to get participants engaged with the park in a unique way. Whether it’s taking a picture with a specific character, solving a riddle, or identifying a landmark, our hunts encourage teams to explore the park thoroughly while learning new things about the Disney experience.
This year, we divided the hunt into six distinct sections, each covering different areas of the park and testing a variety of skills— from solving puzzles and riddles to spotting hidden details and snapping creative photos. Let’s dive into the six pages that made this year’s scavenger hunt such a blast!
The Six Sections of the Scavenger Hunt
1. **While You’re Walking Around Page** 
This section was all about observing the sights and sounds of Animal Kingdom as you wander through its lush landscapes. With questions like “Which bridge has Prayer Flags” and “Finding animals fighting over Pizza,” participants had to stay alert and curious. This page set the tone for the hunt, encouraging teams to begin thinking creatively and paying attention to the details around them.
2. **The Pandora Page**
Pandora – The World of Avatar is one of Animal Kingdom’s most immersive and visually stunning areas. Here, the hunt focused on the vibrant, alien world of Pandora, asking participants to capture specific sights, like the floating mountains or footprints from past visitors. Teams also had to decode a riddle relating to the planet’s creatures, testing both their knowledge of the world of Avatar and their problem-solving skills.
3. **The Africa Page**
Animal Kingdom’s Africa section is filled with cultural richness, both in its architecture and the animals that inhabit it. This page challenged teams to find and photograph various animal-themed details, such as “a Baobab Tree near the Harambe Market” or “a specific types of animals in the Kilimanjaro Safari sign.” There were also write-in questions, like “What part of Africa is the fictional town of Harambe located in?”, which required participants to pay attention to their surroundings and engage with cast members for hints.
4. **The Asia Page**
The Asia section of Animal Kingdom is a blend of natural beauty and rich storytelling, inspired by the cultures of India, Nepal, and other parts of Asia. This section of the hunt had questions that asked participants to snap photos of the architecture, such as “Find a pagoda with a Holy Tree” or “Take a picture of a specific animal in walkways through Asia.” Additionally, there were questions that encouraged teams to engage with the stories behind the area’s attractions, such as “What mythical creature is featured in Expedition Everest?”
5. **The DinoLand Page**
DinoLand USA is the playful, prehistoric section of Animal Kingdom, with dinosaur-themed attractions and fun carnival games. This page included both photo challenges, like “Take a picture with a dinosaur statue,” as well as trivia questions about the history of dinosaurs and paleontology. Teams had to dig deep into their knowledge of dino facts, which led to some hilarious (and often incorrect) answers!
6. **The General Information Page**
Finally, the General Information page tied everything together. This page included a mix of easy and tricky questions covering a broad range of topics related to Animal Kingdom and Walt Disney World in general. Some questions were specific to the park, such as “What time does Animal Kingdom open?” while others were more about Disney trivia. A few of the questions required participants to ask cast members for help— a great way to interact with the park’s amazing staff!
Why We Love the Scavenger Hunt
The scavenger hunt is a key part of our Disney Nerds Podcast meet-up because it’s an event that brings everyone together. Each team is made up of podcast listeners, new friends, and familiar faces, all working together toward a common goal. Some teams are in it for the friendly competition, while others are just here for the fun. Regardless of the approach, the scavenger hunt fosters a sense of camaraderie and a deeper appreciation for the parks we love.
Most importantly, the scavenger hunt is a fantastic way to learn more about Disney and the parks. For example, many people who have been to Animal Kingdom before may not have noticed the hidden details in the architecture of Asia or the subtle touches in the Pandora section. The questions encourage participants to look more closely at the art, landscaping, and design that make the parks so special. In a way, the hunt is a great reminder that even after all these years, there is always something new to discover at Walt Disney World.
The End of the Hunt and the Awards
Want to Try the Scavenger Hunt Yourself?
If you missed this year’s event or just want to relive the adventure, I’ll be posting a copy of the scavenger hunt in this blog post. You can download it and try it out with your friends or family next time you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
Here is your Welcome. Scan the Bar-code:
And here is the hunt.
If you’d like to get the answers or see how you did compare to the winning teams, feel free to email me at Ed@TheDisneyNerdsPodcast.com, and I’ll be happy to send over the answer key!
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The Disney Nerds Podcast meet-ups are always filled with magical moments, and the scavenger hunt at Animal Kingdom was no exception. We can’t wait for next year’s event, which will be held in another one of Walt Disney World’s incredible parks. Stay tuned for more details, and in the meantime, happy hunting!
